Bushcraft, both knowledge and technique, builds the individuals ability to know whats important, to effect what needs to be done, and to do both with the minimum of muss and fuss. While there are few ideas new under the sun, I took care of a couple of things that needed doing this morning; solving a waste problem and solving a fire starting aid issue.
SWMBO and I enjoy eating our dinners at home (which is most of them) by candlelight. While its not a crackling fire, its pleasant and well worth the effort. My latest batch of Ikea votive candles, however, seemed to be engineered to guarantee 25-30% waste. I am not fond of waste. So I saved the spent candles for a project requiring the remaining wax.
A fire can make a big difference in the Northwoods. Whether its a cooking or comfort item or one of survival should you be cold and wet, nothing beats a good fire. Getting a fire going can be problematic; conditions for firestart are least propitious whenever the need for a fire is greatest. You can have satisfactory tinder and a reliable source of ignition and still need something to bridge the gap. And that something is worthless if you do not naturally have it with you.
So, with my left over candles and some medium cotton twine, I set about to make some matchstick-size firewicks for my matchsafe. The votive candle remains were already in metal cups and the wax was quickly melted over low heat on my ceramic cooktop. Melting flammables is one time when I was happy to have the electric cooktop and avoid a flame source of ignition. With the wick assembly removed, match size lengths of twine were soon soaking and then cooling and hardening in a nearby saucer. I straightened each one as it cooled for later storage in the matchsafe. A test firewick burned for almost a minute in still air, was oblivious to a little water in the sink, and held a much stronger flame than a simple match.
A dozen firewicks fit into my garish Coghlans 5-In-1 Survival Aid with another dozen strike anywhere matches (get yours now the current Administration will soon be banning production). Ive been leaving my forty year old Marbles matchsafe home since getting this thing; 1) it works, and 2) its decidedly not bushcraft chee-chee.
But if anyone was on the cusp of laying out for somebodys nifty-swifty fire in a box kit, this might be the $2 solution for you.
SWMBO and I enjoy eating our dinners at home (which is most of them) by candlelight. While its not a crackling fire, its pleasant and well worth the effort. My latest batch of Ikea votive candles, however, seemed to be engineered to guarantee 25-30% waste. I am not fond of waste. So I saved the spent candles for a project requiring the remaining wax.
A fire can make a big difference in the Northwoods. Whether its a cooking or comfort item or one of survival should you be cold and wet, nothing beats a good fire. Getting a fire going can be problematic; conditions for firestart are least propitious whenever the need for a fire is greatest. You can have satisfactory tinder and a reliable source of ignition and still need something to bridge the gap. And that something is worthless if you do not naturally have it with you.
So, with my left over candles and some medium cotton twine, I set about to make some matchstick-size firewicks for my matchsafe. The votive candle remains were already in metal cups and the wax was quickly melted over low heat on my ceramic cooktop. Melting flammables is one time when I was happy to have the electric cooktop and avoid a flame source of ignition. With the wick assembly removed, match size lengths of twine were soon soaking and then cooling and hardening in a nearby saucer. I straightened each one as it cooled for later storage in the matchsafe. A test firewick burned for almost a minute in still air, was oblivious to a little water in the sink, and held a much stronger flame than a simple match.
A dozen firewicks fit into my garish Coghlans 5-In-1 Survival Aid with another dozen strike anywhere matches (get yours now the current Administration will soon be banning production). Ive been leaving my forty year old Marbles matchsafe home since getting this thing; 1) it works, and 2) its decidedly not bushcraft chee-chee.
But if anyone was on the cusp of laying out for somebodys nifty-swifty fire in a box kit, this might be the $2 solution for you.
